Just funny...

Almost every damn time.

Yep.

Now I write a sketchy first chap just to get a point to move from, fully expecting to go back and write a proper first chap when I at least know what the heck my book is about.

You finished the first draft. That's a major accomplishment, so congrats. To some, the next step of editing, modifying, really picking over the story with a critical eye, is tough and disagreeable. But, didn't you feel a twinge of pleasure when it smacked you in the face that the first chapter just wasn't right? Didn't it make you feel like you are getting a handle on some of this writing stuff? To me, that's the fun in revising, editing, tearing-ripping and rebuilding. To me, the hardest part is getting to the first THE END. It's a strange kind of fun to mold it, try new little wrinkles, discover a new subplot that adds depth, polish, and get it ready for the next step--the beta reader smack down (another fun thing despite the way I worded it). Am I a masochist? It's a fair question. But I've gone way beyond having a strong connection between the emotional attachment I have to the story and my emotions as a person. In fact, I think they are almost totally disconnected. I can have a story absolutely shredded and I'll salivate at the possibility of taking those shreds and putting them back together with a gestalt flourish, having the pieces adding up to way more than the original. And, every time this happens, I learn something new about the craft and the way my writing style fits in with the conventions of the craft. Something new learned every day is another reason to close my eyes each day on a smile. If you are there, you know exactly what I mean. If you are not there, work on that separation. It's so incredibly liberating. And if you've allowed yourself to write crap in the first draft, as is so often recommended here, you are already part of the way there.

Also, welcome of AW, Enna.

Enna said:

Anyone else ever read something they've written and thought, "What the &@$# was I thinking??"

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Yep. But on the other hand, I've occasionally been happily surprised by reading my own stuff and knowing it's good.

Enna said:

Just like pretty much everyone here, I read tons of writing advice before/during writing my first novel. I kept all these things...show, don't tell...adverbs are the devil...etc., in the back of my mind, determined not to make these mistakes the first time through. (Ha.)

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You know what, I just realized that I started writing seriously BEFORE I got into reading writing advice and such. I think it's best that I did. If I'd gone looking for all that (conflicting, subjective) advice in the first place, I never would have started writing, my "natural" voice and inclinations would have been too dampened and I'd have been far too discouraged. Good thing I started writing without all that stuff in mind first or I'd never have written anything! I've since seen lots of advice, and have taken some and ignored others, but I'm glad I didn't have all that agonizing hanging over my head the first time around. I would have been afraid of doing EVERYTHING wrong. Writing would have been no fun at all so I wouldn't have bothered.

My first novels sucked, yes, but at least I enjoyed writing them! And now that they've been written I can always redo them with what I've since learned. I probably wouldn't have anything to redo in the first place if I'd known all the writing "rules" before starting out. And yes, I know I've repeated the same point a hundred times here, so...

Enna said:

Anyone else ever read something they've written and thought, "What the &@$# was I thinking??"

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All the time, though it usually happens with my older works. All my stuff is good to me when I first write it. I wouldn't waste time writing it otherwise. After the passage of a few years, however, that opinion often changes, then I slip into "WTF??" mode.

Editing is not about telling yourself "you suck and you should never write another book." Quite the contrary, it's like polishing a piece of diamond. You know it's not perfect right now, but with even time and skills, it will shine. And there's so much to learn from the editing process (as you find out now) and that should be enough motivation to start a new book!

And congrats on your draft. It's quite an achievement. Don't knock yourself down so much.

Gosh, I cut out 15,000 words from my first novel. Did it suck? I hope not, but I enjoyed writing it and publishing and having it read very much, even if people think it sucks.

A writer's career is a journey, and not some random destinations.

Without saying, "What the f@#$ (as it were) was I thinking?" how would you be able to edit it into something to make you say "What the f@#$ (aw, forget it) was I doing when I wrote that and how do I do it again?"

Look at it this way: The first chapter got you writing the next one, didn't it? That "throw out the first chapter" piece of advice works pretty well AFTER you have written your first draft. Though it doesn't apply with every single manuscript you write. (In my last manuscript, Chapter One became Chapter Four.)

Me, I'm ready to evict my Prologue.

And congrats on finishing your first draft!

maestrowork said:

A writer's career is a journey, and not some random destinations.

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Quotable!

tehuti88 said:

You know what, I just realized that I started writing seriously BEFORE I got into reading writing advice and such. I think it's best that I did. If I'd gone looking for all that (conflicting, subjective) advice in the first place, I never would have started writing, my "natural" voice and inclinations would have been too dampened and I'd have been far too discouraged. Good thing I started writing without all that stuff in mind first or I'd never have written anything! I've since seen lots of advice, and have taken some and ignored others, but I'm glad I didn't have all that agonizing hanging over my head the first time around. I would have been afraid of doing EVERYTHING wrong. Writing would have been no fun at all so I wouldn't have bothered.

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Seconded.

The last chapter I just wrote and then deleted.

Hm, I'm working on my first novel now (or, rather, I've been working on it for awhile) and it starts with a prologue that serves to set up the story. It is relatively brief, I believe, but should I just scratch it from the beginning of the book and integrate it right into Chapter Two (technically the third chapter, as things are), since there is an opening? (Oh, and it is a children's book, if that makes any difference to your answer.)

Barpaio said:

The last chapter I just wrote and then deleted.

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This brings up a slightly digressive question: In these days of $10 flash drives that can hold every word of writing you've ever done in your entire life, three times over, why does anybody actually delete anything? I keep multiple versions of everything, and on more than one occasion have found reason to go back and resurrect something I thought I would get rid of.

caw

blacbird said:

This brings up a slightly digressive question: In these days of $10 flash drives that can hold every word of writing you've ever done in your entire life, three times over, why does anybody actually delete anything? I keep multiple versions of everything, and on more than one occasion have found reason to go back and resurrect something I thought I would get rid of.

caw

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Same here. I tuck away every little thing I do, and I'm actually a bit devastated when I do lose something. (Thankfully, I write almost everything down on paper first, so, while my writing room may be an absolute fire hazard, I can recreate just about anything.) And, sometimes, it has proven to be quite useful; after one test reading, the general consensus was that it might be better another way, which, coincidentally, it had started as. By now, I probably have about a dozen different versions in that one story's folder from before I had even finished it completely.

I usually end up cutting much of the first chapter out. I usually like my first paragraph, but after that--info dump and rambling. Or dialogue that doesn't move the story forward.

And oh, yeah, before cutting it out, I still save the work in case I want to laugh at use some of it later.

You know I started at my story and didn't bother with any background

Congrats I'm in the fleshing-out the outline/1st draft stage after many unfinished novels. This time I SEE the ending (yay me!).

I don't so much think wtf, but I see a lot of passive voice, for instance. Then I remember the advice and try it a different way. It's better. That's exciting, I think

I totally understand the folks who say that too many rules can be a bad thing, but a lot of us have 80% down (stubbornly, sometimes ) and have just never considered things like passive voice, or beginning with action if you can, etc. I wouldn't change a structure that I loved and felt worked beautifully due to rules, believe me

Enna said:

Chapter One: "Hi! I'm a big fat info-dump!"

Me: "...Crap."

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The best way to learn the stove is hot is by burning your hand.

Yeah my first chapter was like that too. I kept thinking- I hate the first chapter! Then I realized that instead of adding to it, I needed to delete a bunch (I info dumped too and had a lot of internal agony going on with my female MC). It helped a lot.

I don't think anyone's first time is as good as they would like it to be. From walking, to the first time driving, to writing, to pretty much anything.

Don't be so down on yourself. The most important thing is that you DID realize the problem. You can't fix what you don't see as a problem.

Write on!

I destroyed a good four chapters before I found the beginning of my story.

Yes. Too many times to mention. I worry.

Enna said:

Anyone else ever read something they've written and thought, "What the &@$# was I thinking??"

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First draft of Made in Vermont topped out at 120k words. Fourth draft I'm under 98k. For me it was my second chapter I yanked, which ended up getting condensed to a few paragraphs and turned into the opening of the book. According to my readers, it works.

My beginnings always stink. I know I'm chucking the first three chapters (that shows you the level of stinkage) and moving the fourth up to the first (with some major rewriting of course).